Scrambled Eggs, Cheese, and Avocado Tortilla Bowl Recipe
September 16, 2025
Australia’s favourite salad? Chang’s Crispy Noodle Salad! Recipe
An Asian slaw of types made with Wombok Chinese language cabbage (Napa cabbage), toasted almonds and plenty of crispy noodles, this Chang’s Crispy Noodle Salad is a back-of-packet Aussie staple. At all times a winner at yard BBQs!
Welcome to Day 5 of the inaugural Vacation Salad Marathon, a sequence the place I’m doing the polar reverse of the standard baking countdowns and bringing you a brand new salad recipe each single day by means of to Christmas Eve!
As we speak I’m sharing an important Aussie basic:
It is a salad from that involves you from the again of the Chang’s Crispy Noodle packet. It’s an Aussie summer season BBQ favorite that hits the spot with everyone.
It’s all in regards to the crispy noodles and the sesame dressing. The cabbage is only a car to ship these into our mouth!!
Right here’s what goes into the salad:
The Crispy Noodles
Any crispy fried noodles is ok, ideally skinny like pictured although wider ones are nice too. Although for the good Aussie basic model, nothing however Chang’s will do! In Australia, you’ll discover it within the Asian or noodle part of supermarkets (prices about $1).
There’s different manufacturers that make nearly the identical noodles that you could find at Asian shops and copy-cats at Aldi. Right here’s one I discovered within the US – La Choy Crispy Chow Mein noodles – Walmart & Amazon.
Glorious substitute – BAKED ramen or on the spot noodles!
When you can’t discover it, use two packets of ramen or on the spot noodles (like Maggi!). Discard seasoning packet, break it up into items, unfold on tray, spray with oil and bake at 180°C/350°F for 10 minutes, tossing midway. Works a deal with (I additionally do that for Crispy Chow Mein Noodles).
Chinese language Cabbage (aka Wombok / Napa Cabbage)
Also called Wombok and Napa Cabbage, Chinese language Cabbage is greatest for this salad as a result of it’s softer than conventional cabbage such as you use for Coleslaw which must be left to wilt so that you don’t have pokey bits of cabbage flicking throughout your mouth while you eat it.
The feel of Chinese language cabbage is someplace between conventional stiffer inexperienced cabbage, and mushy leafy greens.
You have to half an enormous one or a full one as a result of as a result of we (nicely, I) solely use the highest half with the leafy bits. The underside 1/3 or so is a bit too crunchy so the feel doesn’t meld as nicely with the remainder of the salad, so I go away it (toss into stir fries and noodles).
By the way in which, that is how I lower the cabbage: two slits then finely shred. Quick and neat!
The Dressing
As for the dressing, all you want is white vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil and olive oil. Asian affect sure, however the soy sauce is extra in regards to the salt than giving this an Asian flavour.
Notice: I can’t assist however tamper with nearly each recipe and on this case, I made the next adjustments (none of which is able to shock common readers):
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Decreased olive oil from 1/2 cup to five tablespoons
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Decreased sugar from 1/4 cup to 2 tablespoons
It’s nonetheless balanced sufficient with much less oil and sugar, and no person has ever complained!
It’s so simple as:
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Shake the dressing in a jar (actually, shaking in a jar is a lot more practical than stirring…); and
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Toss all of it collectively!
There’s only one rule – don’t add the crunchy noodles till simply earlier than serving. No person needs a SOGGY Noodle Salad!
Serve with the whole lot – Asian and non Asian. It may need Asian roots, however this can be a salad we Aussies will serve on the aspect of the whole lot, from Beef Kebabs on the BBQ to Steak with Chimichurri Sauce, to a easy grilled marinated chicken.
And sure, generally we even serve it alongside our favorite Asian meals too….!!! 😇
What’s the Vacation Salad Marathon?
That is my inaugural Christmas recipe countdown the place I’m sharing 30 salad recipes in a row till Christmas Eve – one thing fully totally different to individuals’s common baking countdowns!
These salads are along with my common 3 new recipes per week. As a result of aren’t you bored of the standard tomato-cucumber-lettuce backyard salad routine??
Click on right here to see all of the Vacation Salad Marathon recipes up to now, or join on the spot updates and also you’ll obtain a free e mail alert each time I publish a brand new salad! 🙂
I knew I’d discover one other use for my $3 Melbourne Cup Fascinator!!! (And sure, he’s a he 😂)
Ingredients
- 1 Chinese cabbage (wombok), or 1/2 a giant one (Note 1)
- 100g/ 3.5oz Chang's crispy noodles (store bought, the fine ones not chunky ones, Note 2)
- 5 green onions , finely sliced on the diagonal
- 100g/ 3.5oz slivered almonds
- 4 tbsp white vinegar (just ordinary vinegar, nothing fancy!)
- 2 tbsp white sugar (or brown)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce , all purpose or light, NOT dark soy sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil , toasted (brown, not yellow untoasted)
- 5 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Toast almonds: Lightly toast the slivered almonds in a small skillet over medium heat until lightly browned (no oil). Remove immediately and let cool.
- Dressing: Shake Dressing ingredients in a jar until sugar is dissolved. (This keeps for 3 weeks!)
- Shred cabbage: Cut cabbage (see photos in post, helpful): cut 1 slit down the middle lengthwise (or 2, if it's giant like the one I used). Then finely slice so it's shredded. Just use the top 1/2 – 2/3, mostly leafy part. Reserve the thick crunchy white part for another use (excellent in stir fries!).
- Toss everything except crispy noodles: Place cabbage in a big bowl with toasted almonds and green onions. Pour over Dressing, toss well.
- Add crispy noodles! Toss through noodles just before serving so they stay crisp!
Notes
1. Cabbage – you will need 8 heaped cups – lots!
Chinese cabbage, also known as wombok, is the best for this particular salad. The leaves are not as stiff as normal cabbage, so it flops nicely once dressed without leaving it to wilt (which makes the leaves a bit soggy).
2. Crispy Noodles – the great Aussie classic is made with Chang’s Crispy Noodles which are found at Coles & Woolies in Australia (Asian aisle, ~$1 a packet).
There’s other brands that make virtually the same noodles that you can find at Asian stores and copy-cats at Aldi. Here’s one I found in the US – La Choy Crispy Chow Mein noodles – Walmart & Amazon.
Excellent substitute – BAKED ramen or instant noodles! Use two packets of ramen or instant noodles (like Maggi!). Discard seasoning packet, break it up into pieces, spread on tray, spray with oil and bake at 180°C/350°F for 10 minutes, tossing halfway. Works a treat (I also do this for Crispy Chow Mein Noodles).
3. Storage – Unlike other cabbage salads like Coleslaw, this is best made fresh. To make ahead, just prepare all the ingredients and toss before serving. This is a staple lunch for me with some shredded chicken!
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